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Doctor Who: Reflections (11/21), (2/Jamie), Adult.
Title: Reflections (11/21)
Author: Van Donovan
Rating: Adult
Characters: the second Doctor, Jamie McCrimmon, Victoria Waterfield
Pairings: Two/Jamie
Word count this chapter: 4,932.
Word count total: 87,791
Warnings: Slash and graphic sex. Spoilers through "Evil of the Daleks."
Summary: Charged with saving the universe, can the Doctor overcome his own darkness to defeat the Daleks?
Notes: This is a "Mirrorverse" fic, set in a splinter off "Evil of the Daleks." It isn't required you know either term/story, but it will heighten your enjoyment. This fic is rather dark and adult in nature, so be warned.
Thanks: to lithrael for the encouragement--this fic would not exist without her support (and for the help betaing :D, and the artwork, which is hers), and to irreparable for her amazing very-thorough beta skills. She is glorious. I feel I should be paying for her services. :D And to randominity who planted the seed.
(Crossposted to two_love, dw_slash, and dwfiction)
Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.
Chapter Eleven:
“Did y’ sleep all right?”
Awake now, the Doctor found Jamie leaning over him, a faint smile tugging at the boy’s lips. “Shouldn’t I be the one asking that?” he groggily asked, blinking to clear his vision. He sat up as Jamie moved back. “You’ve showered,” he noted.
“Aye,” said Jamie, glancing down. He had also dressed, though his damp hair still hung in his eyes. “I woke up a right mess.”
Rested-satiated-the Doctor found it somehow hard to look into Jamie’s eyes. So much had changed; the events of the night before seemed a hazy-but wonderful-dream, and utterly unreal. “I should have cleaned you up,” he admitted. “But I was so tired.”
“It’s all right,” Jamie said. His voice was firm and the Doctor knew he was talking about more than just the mess.
Hesitantly, he met Jamie’s eyes. The boy’s smile broadened, became warm. “I feel like I’m still sleeping,” the Doctor admitted, aware how clichéd that sounded. “Like I’m in a dream.”
“Aye, well, you’d better wake up. You’ve had your bit of fun, now there’s work t’ do.”
Jamie’s gaze swept down over the Doctor’s body and he was suddenly all too conscious of how naked he was. “Oh my!” he said, covering up even as he realized how ridiculous it was for him to do so. “Yes, yes, of course. Let me shower first.”
“Aye,” Jamie said, eyes twinkling in amusement. “And I need some breakfast. I’m starved.”
Getting to his feet carefully, the Doctor felt slightly woozy from vertigo, not to mention rather sore from the night before. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen, then.” Putting a hand out to balance himself, the Doctor sighed when the room finally stopped spinning. He had such mixed feelings. It was making thinking very difficult.
“Doctor?” Jamie called.
Turning, he found just looking at the boy made his chest ache.
“Thanks,” Jamie said. Then, inclining his head, he added, “You know. For last night.”
Unable to help himself, the Doctor broke into a brilliant smile, confidence suddenly flooding through him. “It was my pleasure, Jamie.” The boy slipped out of the room and the Doctor turned to the adjoining bathroom, a spring in his step.
--
“Where are we headed?” Jamie asked, once the Doctor was showered and back in the Console Room. They’d slipped in tea and a bite to eat, but both were eager to get underway. The events of last night hadn’t been a waste of time, but it had distracted them rather effectively from their goal. “We’ve still got t’ find Victoria, and my Doctor.”
Smoothing his hands out on the console, trying not to let the words ‘my Doctor’ sting, the Doctor nodded. “Yes, we do. But we won’t be any good to them if we don’t arrive with a plan on how to stop the Daleks.”
“Do y’ suppose th’ Dalek’s really have captured them?” Jamie asked, leaning back against the console, arms folded over his chest.
“Well, it is reasonable to assume. If they were captured, we’ll have to break them free as well as disabling the Daleks. None of that is practical right now. We need a plan.”
“Aye. So, what d’ we do?”
“I have to get somewhere safe to run some tests on you. It’s been a considerable while since I’ve had the potential to actually run a test on a human.”
“Oh?” Jamie mused. “Well, so long as it’s no’ another test like before. I’ll no’ be your guinea pig again.”
Smiling at Jamie’s phraseology, the Doctor shook his head. “No, of course not. I’ve told you, these will be more controlled tests-a laboratory type set, I should think. Besides, you know that wasn’t me putting you through your test.”
“Aye, but near enough. Y’ did the same for your Jamie, no?”
“I suppose that’s true enough.” Not wishing to dwell on the other boy, the Doctor pressed right along. “What we need is to go somewhere safe. Somewhere the Daleks won’t find us.”
“Can’t we jus’ stay on th’ TARDIS?”
“No, I’m afraid not, Jamie. I need a proper laboratory. Besides, I should like to stretch my legs and get out of here. I do love the ship, but I have spent the last twenty years virtually imprisoned here. I deserve a holiday.”
“Och, what do y’ call last night?” Jamie scoffed.
Grinning impishly, the Doctor said, “Well, I suppose that was testing the waters. Now I should like to go for a proper swim.” It was impossible to explain how lovely it was to flirt with Jamie again, to feel comfortable with the boy and able to admire him openly. If he let himself, he’d daydream about the potential future with him all day. Instead, he forced himself to focus. “Yes, I should think the Metal Seas on Venus should do.”
“Venus?” Jamie echoed. Thought furrowed his brow as he concentrated. “Och, isn’t that one all clouds and melting lead and things?”
Beaming at him, the Doctor clapped his hands together. “Very good, Jamie! Yes, that’s the one. They consider it the twin of Earth, although of course that’s never been true, least of all now. But, incredible pressure and lots of deadly gases on the surface protect the rocky planet. It’s virtually impenetrable. On the surface, even a Dalek would be crushed under the pressure and heat after a few minutes.”
Eyeing him warily, Jamie said, “Aye, well then, won’t we be crushed too?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Jamie. We won’t be landing on the surface. That’s the very important difference between our vessel and the ones the Daleks use: to breach Venus, they would have to fly through the atmosphere and then withstand the surface temperatures and pressure long enough to burrow into the earth. We’ll just simply materialize in the safety of the underground, where therein thrives a generous population.” Solemnly, he said, “Venus gets very few tourists.” Gaze growing wistful, his tone became longing. “But, it is a lovely planet. Oh, I haven’t been there in years.”
“Aye, you’ve no’ been anywhere for years.” Uncrossing his arms, Jamie gestured to the console. “Well, let’s stop standing about and get going, aye? But Doctor?”
“Mm?” he said, looking up the course he was plotting.
“Do me a favor and don’t land us on th’ surface, eh?”
Scowling good-naturedly, the Doctor secretly thrummed with delight at Jamie’s playful words. He flipped the final switch and the time rotor began groaning as the ship began traveling along its course.
--
“Here we are, Jamie,” the Doctor cheerfully said, stepping out of the TARDIS. They now found themselves in an elaborate network of underground tunnels. The walls were rough hewn from granite-like stone and poorly lit. Free of technology, the tunnels were quiet and deserted. There was no sign of the generous Venusian population the Doctor had boasted about. Taking a deep, cleansing breath, the Doctor patted his chest and sighed. “Smell that Venusian air!”
“Smells like stale socks,” Jamie grunted.
“Yes, well, that’s probably the recycled air. You’ll get used to it very soon.” Glancing around, the Doctor tried to determine which path to take. From where they stood there were five equally uninteresting tunnels to explore. “Now, let’s see. Where are we?”
Shaking his head, Jamie looked around exasperatedly. “Are y’ sure this is even Venus?” he protested. “It sure doesn’t look like the sort of place that’d have one of those fancy laboratories.”
“Does anywhere?” the Doctor fussed. “We’ve obviously landed somewhere outside of town. Once we arrive, you’ll see. The city is splendid-quite magnificent, really. Its gleaming caverns are so magnificently carved you’ll feel as though you’re outside. They’ve singing jungles, metallic seas, crying caverns and all sorts of wonderful festivals. Oh, I should like to show you one of their fighting tournaments! I do think you’d like them.” Excitedly, he rubbed his hands together.
“Och, remember what we came here for, Doctor,” Jamie admonished. “I’ll no’ be able t’ relax and enjoy anything until I know Victoria and th’ Doctor are safe and sound.”
“Yes, yes, all right,” the Doctor said, subdued. Personally, he wasn’t sure of the practicality of that. He assumed once he reunited Jamie with the other version of himself, he would lose the boy for good; it wasn’t an idea he cared to dwell upon. Still, it wasn’t an issue he would force right now-he would just let the grandeur of the city speak for itself. And, if once Jamie saw the fighting men, or the glamorous shops or breathtaking seas, he was distracted for a day or two, the Doctor wouldn’t too immediately put them back on track. “Well, come along then,” he said, haphazardly picking a tunnel. “I think it’s this way.”
After walking for well over an hour, Jamie threw himself against a stalactite, leaning heavily against it. “Och, if I’d known we’d be out this long I would’ve eaten a bigger breakfast,” he complained, rubbing a stitch in his side.
“Yes, well, I’m sure it can’t be that much further,” the Doctor said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. “I’m certain this bit looks familiar.”
Jamie rolled his eyes. “Aye, because we’ve probably been going round in circles!” He looked back the way they’d come. “It all looks th’ same! How’re we ever going t’ find th’ TARDIS again, after all this?”
“Oh, I’ll manage, don’t you worry about that, Jamie.” He mopped his face with his handkerchief, looking to Jamie. Everything would work out just fine, once he found the city proper. “Come along, no time to waste.” He knew they had to be close.
After another half hour, during which the Doctor was starting to fear maybe he had taken the wrong path, the ground began to change. No longer was rubble strewn across the floor, nor were the walls so roughly carved. Before long, the floor grew smooth and slick, coated very faintly with fine sand; the walls they encountered now were so polished they gleamed.
Ahead, they heard noise. Nothing distinctive, but it was a relief after the endless stretch of silence before it. “Hey, Doctor!” Jamie called, quickening his pace. “There’s light up ahead!”
Smiling knowingly, the Doctor hurried to keep up with Jamie. It wasn’t that he knew exactly what they would find ahead, but he was certain it would be splendid and would convince Jamie they had landed on Venus. It would show the boy they were in a place that could help them run their tests. At last the tunnel began to widen, dumping them out into one of the massive caverns the Doctor had spoken of earlier.
“Doctor-look!” Jamie cried, gripping his arm with one hand while pointing out to the massive sheet of silvery water in the distance with the other.
They had come across the Metal Seas! “Oh, lovely!” the Doctor replied, clapping enthusiastically. “Yes, Jamie, look. It’s the Metal Seas I was telling you about, or at least part of one. You see, we are on Venus, just as I told you! Now, let me think. We must be near a town now.”
Hurrying off to investigate the water, Jamie left the Doctor alone on the shore, contemplating their situation. It was curious, really, the fact that there weren’t any people about. Venus didn’t have many tourists, of course, but it had a very large native population, and the Seas were always extremely popular. The crashing of the waves on the shore created a gentle sort of moaning as it washed against the metallic sands. It was almost musical.
“Oh, now, do be careful!” the Doctor called, hurrying after Jamie. “The water’s poisonous to humans,” he said, catching Jamie by the arm, pulling him back to a safe distance. “It’s not really water, you see, but a sort of liquid metal.” He sighed contentedly, hand on Jamie’s arm, enjoying the view. “But isn’t it lovely?”
Jamie shrugged. “Aye,” he said. “But it’s still no laboratory.”
“There’ll be time for that,” the Doctor replied. He was quite enjoying the view, the faint cool breeze coming off the seas, the pleasant sound of the metal water on the metal shore. “My, I haven’t been here in so very long,” he said nostalgically. Remembering fondly, his eyes glazed over slightly. “I came to Venus with Barbara once, you know, but we never saw the Seas. Too much trauma at the time, I suppose. It was when I was here with Susan that I saw them. She’d loved them and we stayed here for three weeks! My, that was centuries ago, it seems.” He sighed reflectively.
Jamie studied him with open curiosity. “Who’s Susan?”
“She’s my-” the Doctor brought himself up short, snapping out of his daydream. “Well, someone I knew once, long ago. Come along,” he added, moving along the shore. He did not want to think about Susan or Barbara, or explain who they were to Jamie. There were more important things to concentrate on: he was starting to suspect something strange was afoot here. He no longer felt safe out in the open.
“So, where’s this big city of yours you’ve been going on about?” Jamie asked, dejectedly looking around the massive cavern.
“Oh, Jamie, don’t sulk,” the Doctor said. “Like I said, it’s been a long time since I’ve been here. Things could have changed, you know.” Sighing, he added, “I don’t even remember what relative year I landed in, before.”
“What!” Jamie cried. “Y’ mean t’ tell me we might’ve landed before they even evolved enough t’ create stuff!” Shaking his head, he said, “Och, that’s just great.”
“Now, now, Jamie,” the Doctor calmly said. “I’m sure that’s not the problem. It just feels like there’s something strange in the air. I can’t really say what. Everything just seems a bit too quiet. Don’t you feel it?”
Stopping his theatrics, Jamie gave a listen. “All I hear is that sea-groaning,” he said.
“Yes, well. Usually there are all sorts of pleasure seekers on the shores of the Metal Seas. The Venusians really love the metallic water. It has always attracted crowds every time I’ve been here before.”
“Well, they’ll no’ come now, being as how they’re all still apes in trees,” Jamie scoffed.
“Jamie!” the Doctor scolded.
“Och, don’t make me walk anymore, Doctor,” the boy said, kneeling down in the sand wearily. “It’s been hours already, and, well,” he said, his cheeks reddening slightly, “I’m sorer than I’d like t’ admit from last night.”
“Oh,” the Doctor said, at a loss for what to say in response to that. He felt warm and cold all at once. Standing where they were seemed dreadfully exposed, but he hated to make Jamie suffer, especially as it was his fault. Chiding himself for not having known better, he looked around, hoping to find some shelter.
As far as he could see, there were no tracks in the sand, but the cavern extended on and on behind them and he suspected if they walked away from the sea, they would eventually come to a village or a town of some sort. “I’m sorry about all that,” he apologetically said. Thrusting his hands into his coat pockets, he discovered a roll he had pocketed from their stay at the inn. It was a bit hard now, but he handed it over.
“What’s this?” Jamie asked.
“A bread roll.”
Eyeing it dubiously, Jamie brushed it clean of lint and began to nibble at it. He soon got back to his feet. “Och, I can’t just sit here, watching you fret. Do y’ think we’re being watched?”
“I don’t know,” the Doctor admitted, dusting his hands off. “But it does feel that way, doesn’t it?”
“Aye, a little.” Putting one hand on his belt, Jamie surveyed the lay of the land. “Well, which way? It did feel safer in th’ tunnels,” he suggested.
“But that would mean going back.” Taking a deep breath, the Doctor watched Jamie crunch on his roll. “No. If you’re up to it, I recommend we go that way.” He pointed opposite the shore.
Though there were no discernable tracks in the sand, there was an unnatural smoothness to parts of it. Very little wind blew underground, and the sand retained the shape of the footprints left by travelers. While there were obvious mounds from foot travel, much of the sand was neatly flattened down in long strips.
It was like someone had dragged something smooth and heavy over the surface. The Doctor hoped that was all it was.
“Something wrong?” Jamie asked, following the Doctor’s gaze.
“Not yet,” he said. “Just be careful.”
“Aye, always am.”
The boy polished off his roll as the pair made their way over the metallic sands. The musical groaning of the seas soon diminished behind them. The ground sloped gently downward as they walked, soon revealing structures that had previously been obscured to them.
“Oh, look Jamie,” the Doctor cheerfully said. “I just knew we’d find the city.”
Abruptly, the sand gave way to road, which led to a very elegant little town, largely built from stone. On the outskirts there were small shops and tidy homes, but larger buildings could be seen, looming in the distance. Some were even carved right into the cavern wall.
“Is that a Venusian?” Jamie gasped, suddenly gripping the Doctor’s arm.
A tall man drew Jamie’s gaze up. His skin was a grayish-white color, his eyes large and dark. Taller than an average human, he walked briskly toward his destination. For clothing, he wore only simple white smock.
“Oh, yes,” the Doctor cheerfully said. Many of his fears were instantly relieved at the sight of a native, going about his business as usual. “Being underground dwellers, they’ve developed in rather interesting ways, wouldn’t you say?”
“Aye, but what d’ they eat?” Jamie asked.
“Didn’t like your roll?” the Doctor asked.
“It tasted like a lint flavored rock,” he scoffed.
“All right,” the Doctor soothed. “We’ll find something to eat.”
As they walked, more and more natives began surfacing, apparently going about their daily affairs. There were still far fewer people than the Doctor expected, but he supposed he might be misremembering. There was also a sort of stilted strangeness hanging in the air, and the cavern still remained unnaturally quiet, even though it was no longer empty. The natives stared at the pair as they moved along, but none of them spoke, not even to each other.
“They don’t seem so friendly,” Jamie whispered, stepping closer to the Doctor. The curious glances of the Venusians seemed to be turning into dark, suspicious glares. “Maybe they don’t like us trespassing.”
“Nonsense,” the Doctor chided. “The Venusians have always been the very model of friendliness.”
Finding what was clearly an eatery, the Doctor turned off the main road and pushed open a door. They were assaulted by a smell that was unlike anything on Earth, but was undeniably food cooking.
“Oh, now that’s more like it!” Jamie cheered, tugging on his belt. “I’ll have one of those,” he said, pointing at a display case where, through the window, he could make out something that looked like a sort of purplish steak.
“I think that’s a bit out of our budget, Jamie,” the Doctor solemnly said. Approaching the counter, he smiled cheerfully at the very wary clerk. “Hello! Yes, we’ll have, ah, let’s see-two Venusian polducks and one of those gargsplats.” He smiled brightly as he pointed.
“What did you just order?” Jamie asked, bewildered.
“Lunch.” The Doctor began rifling through his pockets for money. In the end, he produced a handful of small, silver coins, which he put on the counter. “There you are, my good man.” The Venusian was still staring at them with wide-eyed curiosity. “Well, go on. I know that’s legal Venusian currency.”
After hesitating a few more moments, the clerk took the money and turned to get their food. The polducks were reminiscent of sandwiches wrapped in a thin, crunchy shell. The gargsplat was a thick beverage whose closest kin was a chocolate shake.
“Are you a new arrival?” the clerk asked, his voice light and timid.
“Thank you,” the Doctor said, accepting the food. He handed one of the sandwiches over to Jamie, who eagerly began eating. “Ah, yes, you could say that. We’re looking for a house of learning.”
“A house of learning?” the clerk echoed.
“Yes,” the Doctor said, distracted. It was very hard not to watch as Jamie teasingly licked polduck juice from his fingers. “If you could just direct us to, uh the nearest one?”
“There is a large white stone building. It is not far from here, on the left. That is a place of learning,” the clerk answered. Furtively, he glanced around. “Is the Daiabette aware that you have arrived?”
“Daia-what?” the Doctor said. “No, should he be?”
“I am not involved,” he answered curtly. Immediately, the clerk turned away from them, suddenly interested in polishing the spotless counter.
Curious at the reaction, the Doctor watched the clerk for a few seconds before shrugging off the unsettling feeling and took a bite of his polduck. He inclined his head that Jamie should follow him out of the store. Already finished with his food, Jamie pilfered the drink from him. Before long the pair were contentedly strolling down the street together again. This time, the Doctor kept his eye out for one of the houses of learning. He had spent a great deal of time in one, the last time he had been here.
“How did you like your polduck, Jamie?” he mildly asked.
“It was all right,” the boy answered. “Wish you’d bought me two.” At the Doctor’s gesture, he handed the drink over. “It seems strange to be out here, doing all this without Victoria around. You and I’ve never really adventured alone before.”
Sucking down some of the gargsplat, the Doctor decided it had tasted much better in his previous incarnation. He handed it back to Jamie, trying to get the taste out of his mouth. “It would be strange to me to travel with her,” he admitted. “My Jamie and I were always alone together.”
“Well, that explains a lot,” Jamie said, eyeing him slyly.
Unable to help it, the Doctor broke into a crooked little smile. “Oh, look,” he said, to distract himself from the boy’s enticing mouth. “There’s the house of learning. We ought to be able to find a laboratory for our purposes inside there.”
They started up the white stone staircase that lead into the building, when from behind there arose a loud commotion in the otherwise quiet streets. “You there!” someone shouted. “Halt!”
“Oh dear,” the Doctor breathed. Turning around, he found an angry looking Venusian official storming toward him.
“Someone stop those two intruders!” the official decried. “Guards!” he bellowed. “Guards, arrest those two!”
Jamie groaned. “Och, here we go again.”
“I don’t like the look of this,” the Doctor said under his breath. The official was wearing a rather distinct insignia on his plain white smock, several strange grey symbols, and the Doctor knew that they hadn’t been there the last time he had been on Venus.
“We run?” Jamie asked, his expression serious.
“I think that would be wise,” the Doctor said.
He cast his gaze down the streets, trying to determine what would be the best route of escape. “This way, Jamie!” he cried, grabbing the boy’s hand. They went not back the way they’d come, but into the house of learning. The shouting man from outside followed them, but the Doctor didn’t slow his pace. “Over here!” he called, tugging the boy past a confused looking employee and down a corridor.
Pausing for breath, the Doctor pressed them up against a wall, between a stack of books and a window. The Doctor stood, listening for the sounds of footsteps following. He met Jamie’s eyes after a second, smiling delightedly. It wasn’t that he wanted to be chased or distracted from their goal, but there was something to be said about running through corridors again, with Jamie at his side.
“What now?” the boy whispered.
The sound of footsteps receded away. “Out the window?” he suggested with an impish little grin.
“Shouldn’t we try t’ talk t’ them?” the boy asked.
“You saw them!” the Doctor cried. “They wanted to arrest us, and we haven’t even done anything! In such a situation, my senses tell me to flee.”
“What about Victoria?” the boy pressed. “We can’t do those tests if we run.”
“Well, we’ll have to figure something else out now, won’t we? We can’t help her at all if we’re locked in a cell somewhere.” Jamie scowled a bit, but realized the Doctor was right. “Now, go on, see if you can’t open that,” the Doctor coaxed.
He was gesturing to the tall window just opposite them. Using his dirk, Jamie slid it under the frame and shortly managed to push the glass up in its stone track. The window opened right onto the street they had just vacated, but fortunately most of the crowd had dispersed once the commotion had gone inside. “What now?” Jamie asked, starting to hoist himself onto the sill.
“Look, there’s a little alley along that building,” the Doctor said. “Let’s make for that and see if it leads us somewhere safe.”
Though he wore an expression that said he didn’t think this was a good idea, Jamie didn’t complain either. He just pulled himself out the window and landed nimbly on his feet. Once down, he turned and helped the Doctor through.
Feeling rather comical at first, being helped through a window from a place he had once taken solace in, the Doctor found Jamie’s hands, strong and supportive on him, melted the feeling away. The boy gave him an encouraging smile once he had landed safely. He had to admit that being on the run with the boy was vastly preferable to staring at a monitor of DNA results.
“Come along!” he whispered loudly, grabbing Jamie’s arm for a moment to tug him in the right direction. Waiting until it looked like no one was watching, they hurried across the street to duck into the alley. Not willing to risk being seen, the Doctor kept going, even though the streets looked deserted.
The alley stretched along the length of two very tall stone buildings, narrowing slightly as they progressed. After a time, the alley emptied onto a less prominent street-they looked like residential homes. Across that street, the alley continued, and the Doctor hurried to it. There they found themselves moving between houses, passing by backyards full of granite furniture, stone pillars and creeping moss.
“Where are we going?” Jamie asked, his voice nearly a whine.
Truthfully, the Doctor didn’t know. It felt a waste to head back to the TARDIS, yet he was unwilling to risk capture. Still, their physical appearances made them too dissimilar to the Venusian natives to blend in properly. Stopping to lean against a stonewall that bordered the house they were beside, the Doctor caught his breath. “I don’t know, Jamie. This isn’t turning out at all how I planned.”
“Och, it never does. Is there nowhere else that’s safe? Surely with a time machine we can find a safe place in time. Earth before it’s destroyed. Scotland!”
“I’m afraid that’s just not practical, Jamie,” he said with a sigh. “I may have to just try to make do with what’s on the TARDIS.”
“Aye! Aren’t there loads of things on the TARDIS, anyway? I’ve seen your laboratory! It’s huge!”
Curiously, the Doctor studied Jamie. Then he shook his head, understanding. “You’ve seen your Doctor’s laboratory, Jamie. The Daleks removed or jettisoned any of the really valuable rooms I had on the ship. They’d simply fly me to my destination, march me out into one of their facilities, and make me work on . . . well, whatever it was they needed me to work on. The TARDIS was little more to them than a device with which to travel through time.”
Jamie grunted. “We can’t do nothing!”
“I know, Jamie. Believe me, I know.” Stroking his beard as he pondered, the Doctor stared at the opposite wall, listening to the silence around them. His brow furrowed. “I wonder if I could take you to Gallifrey.”
“Where’s that?”
“It’s-” the Doctor cut himself off, sighing. “It’s where I come from, Jamie. The people who sent you to me are still there. It’s possible they could help us. Only, well, humans aren’t really allowed and I should hate to possibly draw the Daleks there.”
“Och, well, we’ve no’ really got much choice!”
Jamie was right, of course. They didn’t have any choice. It was run and hide and hope they weren’t caught, or to face the music and go to Gallifrey.
Suddenly stiffening, the Doctor tilted his head to listen intently to the air. The whole street was silent. Too silent. They were in a residential area in the middle of the day! There should have been at least some noise. “Listen,” the Doctor hissed, suddenly pushing off the wall. He walked several paces, approaching other houses. Several were in obvious disrepair, and there was no noise from any of them, either. If it weren’t for the people he’d seen in town, it would almost seem like they had arrived in a dead world. Discomforted by the thought, the Doctor felt his skin beginning to prickle.
Author: Van Donovan
Rating: Adult
Characters: the second Doctor, Jamie McCrimmon, Victoria Waterfield
Pairings: Two/Jamie
Word count this chapter: 4,932.
Word count total: 87,791
Warnings: Slash and graphic sex. Spoilers through "Evil of the Daleks."
Summary: Charged with saving the universe, can the Doctor overcome his own darkness to defeat the Daleks?
Notes: This is a "Mirrorverse" fic, set in a splinter off "Evil of the Daleks." It isn't required you know either term/story, but it will heighten your enjoyment. This fic is rather dark and adult in nature, so be warned.
Thanks: to lithrael for the encouragement--this fic would not exist without her support (and for the help betaing :D, and the artwork, which is hers), and to irreparable for her amazing very-thorough beta skills. She is glorious. I feel I should be paying for her services. :D And to randominity who planted the seed.
(Crossposted to two_love, dw_slash, and dwfiction)
Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.
Chapter Eleven:
“Did y’ sleep all right?”
Awake now, the Doctor found Jamie leaning over him, a faint smile tugging at the boy’s lips. “Shouldn’t I be the one asking that?” he groggily asked, blinking to clear his vision. He sat up as Jamie moved back. “You’ve showered,” he noted.
“Aye,” said Jamie, glancing down. He had also dressed, though his damp hair still hung in his eyes. “I woke up a right mess.”
Rested-satiated-the Doctor found it somehow hard to look into Jamie’s eyes. So much had changed; the events of the night before seemed a hazy-but wonderful-dream, and utterly unreal. “I should have cleaned you up,” he admitted. “But I was so tired.”
“It’s all right,” Jamie said. His voice was firm and the Doctor knew he was talking about more than just the mess.
Hesitantly, he met Jamie’s eyes. The boy’s smile broadened, became warm. “I feel like I’m still sleeping,” the Doctor admitted, aware how clichéd that sounded. “Like I’m in a dream.”
“Aye, well, you’d better wake up. You’ve had your bit of fun, now there’s work t’ do.”
Jamie’s gaze swept down over the Doctor’s body and he was suddenly all too conscious of how naked he was. “Oh my!” he said, covering up even as he realized how ridiculous it was for him to do so. “Yes, yes, of course. Let me shower first.”
“Aye,” Jamie said, eyes twinkling in amusement. “And I need some breakfast. I’m starved.”
Getting to his feet carefully, the Doctor felt slightly woozy from vertigo, not to mention rather sore from the night before. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen, then.” Putting a hand out to balance himself, the Doctor sighed when the room finally stopped spinning. He had such mixed feelings. It was making thinking very difficult.
“Doctor?” Jamie called.
Turning, he found just looking at the boy made his chest ache.
“Thanks,” Jamie said. Then, inclining his head, he added, “You know. For last night.”
Unable to help himself, the Doctor broke into a brilliant smile, confidence suddenly flooding through him. “It was my pleasure, Jamie.” The boy slipped out of the room and the Doctor turned to the adjoining bathroom, a spring in his step.
--
“Where are we headed?” Jamie asked, once the Doctor was showered and back in the Console Room. They’d slipped in tea and a bite to eat, but both were eager to get underway. The events of last night hadn’t been a waste of time, but it had distracted them rather effectively from their goal. “We’ve still got t’ find Victoria, and my Doctor.”
Smoothing his hands out on the console, trying not to let the words ‘my Doctor’ sting, the Doctor nodded. “Yes, we do. But we won’t be any good to them if we don’t arrive with a plan on how to stop the Daleks.”
“Do y’ suppose th’ Dalek’s really have captured them?” Jamie asked, leaning back against the console, arms folded over his chest.
“Well, it is reasonable to assume. If they were captured, we’ll have to break them free as well as disabling the Daleks. None of that is practical right now. We need a plan.”
“Aye. So, what d’ we do?”
“I have to get somewhere safe to run some tests on you. It’s been a considerable while since I’ve had the potential to actually run a test on a human.”
“Oh?” Jamie mused. “Well, so long as it’s no’ another test like before. I’ll no’ be your guinea pig again.”
Smiling at Jamie’s phraseology, the Doctor shook his head. “No, of course not. I’ve told you, these will be more controlled tests-a laboratory type set, I should think. Besides, you know that wasn’t me putting you through your test.”
“Aye, but near enough. Y’ did the same for your Jamie, no?”
“I suppose that’s true enough.” Not wishing to dwell on the other boy, the Doctor pressed right along. “What we need is to go somewhere safe. Somewhere the Daleks won’t find us.”
“Can’t we jus’ stay on th’ TARDIS?”
“No, I’m afraid not, Jamie. I need a proper laboratory. Besides, I should like to stretch my legs and get out of here. I do love the ship, but I have spent the last twenty years virtually imprisoned here. I deserve a holiday.”
“Och, what do y’ call last night?” Jamie scoffed.
Grinning impishly, the Doctor said, “Well, I suppose that was testing the waters. Now I should like to go for a proper swim.” It was impossible to explain how lovely it was to flirt with Jamie again, to feel comfortable with the boy and able to admire him openly. If he let himself, he’d daydream about the potential future with him all day. Instead, he forced himself to focus. “Yes, I should think the Metal Seas on Venus should do.”
“Venus?” Jamie echoed. Thought furrowed his brow as he concentrated. “Och, isn’t that one all clouds and melting lead and things?”
Beaming at him, the Doctor clapped his hands together. “Very good, Jamie! Yes, that’s the one. They consider it the twin of Earth, although of course that’s never been true, least of all now. But, incredible pressure and lots of deadly gases on the surface protect the rocky planet. It’s virtually impenetrable. On the surface, even a Dalek would be crushed under the pressure and heat after a few minutes.”
Eyeing him warily, Jamie said, “Aye, well then, won’t we be crushed too?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Jamie. We won’t be landing on the surface. That’s the very important difference between our vessel and the ones the Daleks use: to breach Venus, they would have to fly through the atmosphere and then withstand the surface temperatures and pressure long enough to burrow into the earth. We’ll just simply materialize in the safety of the underground, where therein thrives a generous population.” Solemnly, he said, “Venus gets very few tourists.” Gaze growing wistful, his tone became longing. “But, it is a lovely planet. Oh, I haven’t been there in years.”
“Aye, you’ve no’ been anywhere for years.” Uncrossing his arms, Jamie gestured to the console. “Well, let’s stop standing about and get going, aye? But Doctor?”
“Mm?” he said, looking up the course he was plotting.
“Do me a favor and don’t land us on th’ surface, eh?”
Scowling good-naturedly, the Doctor secretly thrummed with delight at Jamie’s playful words. He flipped the final switch and the time rotor began groaning as the ship began traveling along its course.
--
“Here we are, Jamie,” the Doctor cheerfully said, stepping out of the TARDIS. They now found themselves in an elaborate network of underground tunnels. The walls were rough hewn from granite-like stone and poorly lit. Free of technology, the tunnels were quiet and deserted. There was no sign of the generous Venusian population the Doctor had boasted about. Taking a deep, cleansing breath, the Doctor patted his chest and sighed. “Smell that Venusian air!”
“Smells like stale socks,” Jamie grunted.
“Yes, well, that’s probably the recycled air. You’ll get used to it very soon.” Glancing around, the Doctor tried to determine which path to take. From where they stood there were five equally uninteresting tunnels to explore. “Now, let’s see. Where are we?”
Shaking his head, Jamie looked around exasperatedly. “Are y’ sure this is even Venus?” he protested. “It sure doesn’t look like the sort of place that’d have one of those fancy laboratories.”
“Does anywhere?” the Doctor fussed. “We’ve obviously landed somewhere outside of town. Once we arrive, you’ll see. The city is splendid-quite magnificent, really. Its gleaming caverns are so magnificently carved you’ll feel as though you’re outside. They’ve singing jungles, metallic seas, crying caverns and all sorts of wonderful festivals. Oh, I should like to show you one of their fighting tournaments! I do think you’d like them.” Excitedly, he rubbed his hands together.
“Och, remember what we came here for, Doctor,” Jamie admonished. “I’ll no’ be able t’ relax and enjoy anything until I know Victoria and th’ Doctor are safe and sound.”
“Yes, yes, all right,” the Doctor said, subdued. Personally, he wasn’t sure of the practicality of that. He assumed once he reunited Jamie with the other version of himself, he would lose the boy for good; it wasn’t an idea he cared to dwell upon. Still, it wasn’t an issue he would force right now-he would just let the grandeur of the city speak for itself. And, if once Jamie saw the fighting men, or the glamorous shops or breathtaking seas, he was distracted for a day or two, the Doctor wouldn’t too immediately put them back on track. “Well, come along then,” he said, haphazardly picking a tunnel. “I think it’s this way.”
After walking for well over an hour, Jamie threw himself against a stalactite, leaning heavily against it. “Och, if I’d known we’d be out this long I would’ve eaten a bigger breakfast,” he complained, rubbing a stitch in his side.
“Yes, well, I’m sure it can’t be that much further,” the Doctor said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. “I’m certain this bit looks familiar.”
Jamie rolled his eyes. “Aye, because we’ve probably been going round in circles!” He looked back the way they’d come. “It all looks th’ same! How’re we ever going t’ find th’ TARDIS again, after all this?”
“Oh, I’ll manage, don’t you worry about that, Jamie.” He mopped his face with his handkerchief, looking to Jamie. Everything would work out just fine, once he found the city proper. “Come along, no time to waste.” He knew they had to be close.
After another half hour, during which the Doctor was starting to fear maybe he had taken the wrong path, the ground began to change. No longer was rubble strewn across the floor, nor were the walls so roughly carved. Before long, the floor grew smooth and slick, coated very faintly with fine sand; the walls they encountered now were so polished they gleamed.
Ahead, they heard noise. Nothing distinctive, but it was a relief after the endless stretch of silence before it. “Hey, Doctor!” Jamie called, quickening his pace. “There’s light up ahead!”
Smiling knowingly, the Doctor hurried to keep up with Jamie. It wasn’t that he knew exactly what they would find ahead, but he was certain it would be splendid and would convince Jamie they had landed on Venus. It would show the boy they were in a place that could help them run their tests. At last the tunnel began to widen, dumping them out into one of the massive caverns the Doctor had spoken of earlier.
“Doctor-look!” Jamie cried, gripping his arm with one hand while pointing out to the massive sheet of silvery water in the distance with the other.
They had come across the Metal Seas! “Oh, lovely!” the Doctor replied, clapping enthusiastically. “Yes, Jamie, look. It’s the Metal Seas I was telling you about, or at least part of one. You see, we are on Venus, just as I told you! Now, let me think. We must be near a town now.”
Hurrying off to investigate the water, Jamie left the Doctor alone on the shore, contemplating their situation. It was curious, really, the fact that there weren’t any people about. Venus didn’t have many tourists, of course, but it had a very large native population, and the Seas were always extremely popular. The crashing of the waves on the shore created a gentle sort of moaning as it washed against the metallic sands. It was almost musical.
“Oh, now, do be careful!” the Doctor called, hurrying after Jamie. “The water’s poisonous to humans,” he said, catching Jamie by the arm, pulling him back to a safe distance. “It’s not really water, you see, but a sort of liquid metal.” He sighed contentedly, hand on Jamie’s arm, enjoying the view. “But isn’t it lovely?”
Jamie shrugged. “Aye,” he said. “But it’s still no laboratory.”
“There’ll be time for that,” the Doctor replied. He was quite enjoying the view, the faint cool breeze coming off the seas, the pleasant sound of the metal water on the metal shore. “My, I haven’t been here in so very long,” he said nostalgically. Remembering fondly, his eyes glazed over slightly. “I came to Venus with Barbara once, you know, but we never saw the Seas. Too much trauma at the time, I suppose. It was when I was here with Susan that I saw them. She’d loved them and we stayed here for three weeks! My, that was centuries ago, it seems.” He sighed reflectively.
Jamie studied him with open curiosity. “Who’s Susan?”
“She’s my-” the Doctor brought himself up short, snapping out of his daydream. “Well, someone I knew once, long ago. Come along,” he added, moving along the shore. He did not want to think about Susan or Barbara, or explain who they were to Jamie. There were more important things to concentrate on: he was starting to suspect something strange was afoot here. He no longer felt safe out in the open.
“So, where’s this big city of yours you’ve been going on about?” Jamie asked, dejectedly looking around the massive cavern.
“Oh, Jamie, don’t sulk,” the Doctor said. “Like I said, it’s been a long time since I’ve been here. Things could have changed, you know.” Sighing, he added, “I don’t even remember what relative year I landed in, before.”
“What!” Jamie cried. “Y’ mean t’ tell me we might’ve landed before they even evolved enough t’ create stuff!” Shaking his head, he said, “Och, that’s just great.”
“Now, now, Jamie,” the Doctor calmly said. “I’m sure that’s not the problem. It just feels like there’s something strange in the air. I can’t really say what. Everything just seems a bit too quiet. Don’t you feel it?”
Stopping his theatrics, Jamie gave a listen. “All I hear is that sea-groaning,” he said.
“Yes, well. Usually there are all sorts of pleasure seekers on the shores of the Metal Seas. The Venusians really love the metallic water. It has always attracted crowds every time I’ve been here before.”
“Well, they’ll no’ come now, being as how they’re all still apes in trees,” Jamie scoffed.
“Jamie!” the Doctor scolded.
“Och, don’t make me walk anymore, Doctor,” the boy said, kneeling down in the sand wearily. “It’s been hours already, and, well,” he said, his cheeks reddening slightly, “I’m sorer than I’d like t’ admit from last night.”
“Oh,” the Doctor said, at a loss for what to say in response to that. He felt warm and cold all at once. Standing where they were seemed dreadfully exposed, but he hated to make Jamie suffer, especially as it was his fault. Chiding himself for not having known better, he looked around, hoping to find some shelter.
As far as he could see, there were no tracks in the sand, but the cavern extended on and on behind them and he suspected if they walked away from the sea, they would eventually come to a village or a town of some sort. “I’m sorry about all that,” he apologetically said. Thrusting his hands into his coat pockets, he discovered a roll he had pocketed from their stay at the inn. It was a bit hard now, but he handed it over.
“What’s this?” Jamie asked.
“A bread roll.”
Eyeing it dubiously, Jamie brushed it clean of lint and began to nibble at it. He soon got back to his feet. “Och, I can’t just sit here, watching you fret. Do y’ think we’re being watched?”
“I don’t know,” the Doctor admitted, dusting his hands off. “But it does feel that way, doesn’t it?”
“Aye, a little.” Putting one hand on his belt, Jamie surveyed the lay of the land. “Well, which way? It did feel safer in th’ tunnels,” he suggested.
“But that would mean going back.” Taking a deep breath, the Doctor watched Jamie crunch on his roll. “No. If you’re up to it, I recommend we go that way.” He pointed opposite the shore.
Though there were no discernable tracks in the sand, there was an unnatural smoothness to parts of it. Very little wind blew underground, and the sand retained the shape of the footprints left by travelers. While there were obvious mounds from foot travel, much of the sand was neatly flattened down in long strips.
It was like someone had dragged something smooth and heavy over the surface. The Doctor hoped that was all it was.
“Something wrong?” Jamie asked, following the Doctor’s gaze.
“Not yet,” he said. “Just be careful.”
“Aye, always am.”
The boy polished off his roll as the pair made their way over the metallic sands. The musical groaning of the seas soon diminished behind them. The ground sloped gently downward as they walked, soon revealing structures that had previously been obscured to them.
“Oh, look Jamie,” the Doctor cheerfully said. “I just knew we’d find the city.”
Abruptly, the sand gave way to road, which led to a very elegant little town, largely built from stone. On the outskirts there were small shops and tidy homes, but larger buildings could be seen, looming in the distance. Some were even carved right into the cavern wall.
“Is that a Venusian?” Jamie gasped, suddenly gripping the Doctor’s arm.
A tall man drew Jamie’s gaze up. His skin was a grayish-white color, his eyes large and dark. Taller than an average human, he walked briskly toward his destination. For clothing, he wore only simple white smock.
“Oh, yes,” the Doctor cheerfully said. Many of his fears were instantly relieved at the sight of a native, going about his business as usual. “Being underground dwellers, they’ve developed in rather interesting ways, wouldn’t you say?”
“Aye, but what d’ they eat?” Jamie asked.
“Didn’t like your roll?” the Doctor asked.
“It tasted like a lint flavored rock,” he scoffed.
“All right,” the Doctor soothed. “We’ll find something to eat.”
As they walked, more and more natives began surfacing, apparently going about their daily affairs. There were still far fewer people than the Doctor expected, but he supposed he might be misremembering. There was also a sort of stilted strangeness hanging in the air, and the cavern still remained unnaturally quiet, even though it was no longer empty. The natives stared at the pair as they moved along, but none of them spoke, not even to each other.
“They don’t seem so friendly,” Jamie whispered, stepping closer to the Doctor. The curious glances of the Venusians seemed to be turning into dark, suspicious glares. “Maybe they don’t like us trespassing.”
“Nonsense,” the Doctor chided. “The Venusians have always been the very model of friendliness.”
Finding what was clearly an eatery, the Doctor turned off the main road and pushed open a door. They were assaulted by a smell that was unlike anything on Earth, but was undeniably food cooking.
“Oh, now that’s more like it!” Jamie cheered, tugging on his belt. “I’ll have one of those,” he said, pointing at a display case where, through the window, he could make out something that looked like a sort of purplish steak.
“I think that’s a bit out of our budget, Jamie,” the Doctor solemnly said. Approaching the counter, he smiled cheerfully at the very wary clerk. “Hello! Yes, we’ll have, ah, let’s see-two Venusian polducks and one of those gargsplats.” He smiled brightly as he pointed.
“What did you just order?” Jamie asked, bewildered.
“Lunch.” The Doctor began rifling through his pockets for money. In the end, he produced a handful of small, silver coins, which he put on the counter. “There you are, my good man.” The Venusian was still staring at them with wide-eyed curiosity. “Well, go on. I know that’s legal Venusian currency.”
After hesitating a few more moments, the clerk took the money and turned to get their food. The polducks were reminiscent of sandwiches wrapped in a thin, crunchy shell. The gargsplat was a thick beverage whose closest kin was a chocolate shake.
“Are you a new arrival?” the clerk asked, his voice light and timid.
“Thank you,” the Doctor said, accepting the food. He handed one of the sandwiches over to Jamie, who eagerly began eating. “Ah, yes, you could say that. We’re looking for a house of learning.”
“A house of learning?” the clerk echoed.
“Yes,” the Doctor said, distracted. It was very hard not to watch as Jamie teasingly licked polduck juice from his fingers. “If you could just direct us to, uh the nearest one?”
“There is a large white stone building. It is not far from here, on the left. That is a place of learning,” the clerk answered. Furtively, he glanced around. “Is the Daiabette aware that you have arrived?”
“Daia-what?” the Doctor said. “No, should he be?”
“I am not involved,” he answered curtly. Immediately, the clerk turned away from them, suddenly interested in polishing the spotless counter.
Curious at the reaction, the Doctor watched the clerk for a few seconds before shrugging off the unsettling feeling and took a bite of his polduck. He inclined his head that Jamie should follow him out of the store. Already finished with his food, Jamie pilfered the drink from him. Before long the pair were contentedly strolling down the street together again. This time, the Doctor kept his eye out for one of the houses of learning. He had spent a great deal of time in one, the last time he had been here.
“How did you like your polduck, Jamie?” he mildly asked.
“It was all right,” the boy answered. “Wish you’d bought me two.” At the Doctor’s gesture, he handed the drink over. “It seems strange to be out here, doing all this without Victoria around. You and I’ve never really adventured alone before.”
Sucking down some of the gargsplat, the Doctor decided it had tasted much better in his previous incarnation. He handed it back to Jamie, trying to get the taste out of his mouth. “It would be strange to me to travel with her,” he admitted. “My Jamie and I were always alone together.”
“Well, that explains a lot,” Jamie said, eyeing him slyly.
Unable to help it, the Doctor broke into a crooked little smile. “Oh, look,” he said, to distract himself from the boy’s enticing mouth. “There’s the house of learning. We ought to be able to find a laboratory for our purposes inside there.”
They started up the white stone staircase that lead into the building, when from behind there arose a loud commotion in the otherwise quiet streets. “You there!” someone shouted. “Halt!”
“Oh dear,” the Doctor breathed. Turning around, he found an angry looking Venusian official storming toward him.
“Someone stop those two intruders!” the official decried. “Guards!” he bellowed. “Guards, arrest those two!”
Jamie groaned. “Och, here we go again.”
“I don’t like the look of this,” the Doctor said under his breath. The official was wearing a rather distinct insignia on his plain white smock, several strange grey symbols, and the Doctor knew that they hadn’t been there the last time he had been on Venus.
“We run?” Jamie asked, his expression serious.
“I think that would be wise,” the Doctor said.
He cast his gaze down the streets, trying to determine what would be the best route of escape. “This way, Jamie!” he cried, grabbing the boy’s hand. They went not back the way they’d come, but into the house of learning. The shouting man from outside followed them, but the Doctor didn’t slow his pace. “Over here!” he called, tugging the boy past a confused looking employee and down a corridor.
Pausing for breath, the Doctor pressed them up against a wall, between a stack of books and a window. The Doctor stood, listening for the sounds of footsteps following. He met Jamie’s eyes after a second, smiling delightedly. It wasn’t that he wanted to be chased or distracted from their goal, but there was something to be said about running through corridors again, with Jamie at his side.
“What now?” the boy whispered.
The sound of footsteps receded away. “Out the window?” he suggested with an impish little grin.
“Shouldn’t we try t’ talk t’ them?” the boy asked.
“You saw them!” the Doctor cried. “They wanted to arrest us, and we haven’t even done anything! In such a situation, my senses tell me to flee.”
“What about Victoria?” the boy pressed. “We can’t do those tests if we run.”
“Well, we’ll have to figure something else out now, won’t we? We can’t help her at all if we’re locked in a cell somewhere.” Jamie scowled a bit, but realized the Doctor was right. “Now, go on, see if you can’t open that,” the Doctor coaxed.
He was gesturing to the tall window just opposite them. Using his dirk, Jamie slid it under the frame and shortly managed to push the glass up in its stone track. The window opened right onto the street they had just vacated, but fortunately most of the crowd had dispersed once the commotion had gone inside. “What now?” Jamie asked, starting to hoist himself onto the sill.
“Look, there’s a little alley along that building,” the Doctor said. “Let’s make for that and see if it leads us somewhere safe.”
Though he wore an expression that said he didn’t think this was a good idea, Jamie didn’t complain either. He just pulled himself out the window and landed nimbly on his feet. Once down, he turned and helped the Doctor through.
Feeling rather comical at first, being helped through a window from a place he had once taken solace in, the Doctor found Jamie’s hands, strong and supportive on him, melted the feeling away. The boy gave him an encouraging smile once he had landed safely. He had to admit that being on the run with the boy was vastly preferable to staring at a monitor of DNA results.
“Come along!” he whispered loudly, grabbing Jamie’s arm for a moment to tug him in the right direction. Waiting until it looked like no one was watching, they hurried across the street to duck into the alley. Not willing to risk being seen, the Doctor kept going, even though the streets looked deserted.
The alley stretched along the length of two very tall stone buildings, narrowing slightly as they progressed. After a time, the alley emptied onto a less prominent street-they looked like residential homes. Across that street, the alley continued, and the Doctor hurried to it. There they found themselves moving between houses, passing by backyards full of granite furniture, stone pillars and creeping moss.
“Where are we going?” Jamie asked, his voice nearly a whine.
Truthfully, the Doctor didn’t know. It felt a waste to head back to the TARDIS, yet he was unwilling to risk capture. Still, their physical appearances made them too dissimilar to the Venusian natives to blend in properly. Stopping to lean against a stonewall that bordered the house they were beside, the Doctor caught his breath. “I don’t know, Jamie. This isn’t turning out at all how I planned.”
“Och, it never does. Is there nowhere else that’s safe? Surely with a time machine we can find a safe place in time. Earth before it’s destroyed. Scotland!”
“I’m afraid that’s just not practical, Jamie,” he said with a sigh. “I may have to just try to make do with what’s on the TARDIS.”
“Aye! Aren’t there loads of things on the TARDIS, anyway? I’ve seen your laboratory! It’s huge!”
Curiously, the Doctor studied Jamie. Then he shook his head, understanding. “You’ve seen your Doctor’s laboratory, Jamie. The Daleks removed or jettisoned any of the really valuable rooms I had on the ship. They’d simply fly me to my destination, march me out into one of their facilities, and make me work on . . . well, whatever it was they needed me to work on. The TARDIS was little more to them than a device with which to travel through time.”
Jamie grunted. “We can’t do nothing!”
“I know, Jamie. Believe me, I know.” Stroking his beard as he pondered, the Doctor stared at the opposite wall, listening to the silence around them. His brow furrowed. “I wonder if I could take you to Gallifrey.”
“Where’s that?”
“It’s-” the Doctor cut himself off, sighing. “It’s where I come from, Jamie. The people who sent you to me are still there. It’s possible they could help us. Only, well, humans aren’t really allowed and I should hate to possibly draw the Daleks there.”
“Och, well, we’ve no’ really got much choice!”
Jamie was right, of course. They didn’t have any choice. It was run and hide and hope they weren’t caught, or to face the music and go to Gallifrey.
Suddenly stiffening, the Doctor tilted his head to listen intently to the air. The whole street was silent. Too silent. They were in a residential area in the middle of the day! There should have been at least some noise. “Listen,” the Doctor hissed, suddenly pushing off the wall. He walked several paces, approaching other houses. Several were in obvious disrepair, and there was no noise from any of them, either. If it weren’t for the people he’d seen in town, it would almost seem like they had arrived in a dead world. Discomforted by the thought, the Doctor felt his skin beginning to prickle.